Chrysanthemum plant named Sunset Lady

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, and referred to by the cultivar name Sunset Lady. The new cultivar is distinguished by its red bronze buds and pale yellow flowers with a distinctive red color eye.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

Sunset Lady, identified originally as No. 1 yellow sport of Wain's Pink Lady and thereafter coded as HM-1, was a spontaneous mutation (sport) discovered by Peter S. Hesse in a controlled breeding program during March, 1991 in Nipomo, Calif., USA. The striking red bronze bud color and the pale yellow fully expanded florets were unusual characteristics that appeared to make it a desirable plant for greenhouse production.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Sunset Lady was accomplished in June 1991 when vegetative cuttings were taken in a controlled environment in Nipomo, Calif. by technicians working under Peter S. Hesse.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successive plantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Sunset Lady are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Sunset Lady has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in the environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in controlled environments in Nipomo, Calif. Unrooted cuttings were directly stuck into 6.5 inch pots and grown under the natural temperature and day length prevailing in June 1991-December 1992.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of Sunset Lady, which in combination distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar.

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Pale yellow color of fully expanded outer ray floret.

3. Red-bronze bud color contrasting with the pale yellow florets. This redness is always deeper in the center of the flower and radiates outward. This gives the flower a contrasting red colored "eye" during the stage before the ray florets are fully expanded. When fully expanded, the overall color is pale yellow with a somewhat deeper yellow appearance toward the center.

4. An average of 8.6 flowers/buds per break.

5. Diameter across the face of capitulum of 7.6 cm.

6. Exceptional upright spreading habit with an average of 4.0 breaks after a single pinch.

7. Relative ease in controlling plant height such that the finished height will range from 10 inches to 17 inches depending on pot size and market requirements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows typical inflorescence and leaf characteristics of Sunset Lady, with the colors being as nearly true as possible with illustrations of this type. The photograph shows Sunset Lady grown as a pinched spray pot mum with 3 cuttings in a 6.5 inch pot.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in form, color, and habit to Sunset Lady is the cultivar identified as Wain's Pink Lady (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,573). Reference is made to Table I which compares certain characteristics of Sunset Lady with Wain's Pink Lady.

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                                          SUNSET      WAIN'S                                            CHARACTERISTIC   LADY        PINK LADY                                         ______________________________________                                         CAPITULUM FORMS  FLAT        FLAT                                              CAPITULUM TYPE   DECORA-     DECORA-                                                            TIVE        TIVE                                              DIAMETER ACROSS  7.6 CM      7.7 CM                                            FACE OF CAPITULUM                                                              BRANCHING PATTERN                                                                               UPRIGHT     UPRIGHT                                                            SPREADING   SPREADING                                         BREAKS/PINCH     4.0         3.6                                               HEIGHT IN 6.5 POT                                                                               16-17       16-17                                                              INCHES      INCHES                                            RAY FLORET COLOR:                                                              FRONT FULLY      16C         62D                                               EXPANDED                                                                       FRONT UNFOLDED   42C         62A                                               FRONT BUD STAGE  42C         63D                                               BACK FULLY EXPANDED                                                                             16C         62B                                               BACK BUD STAGE   42C         63C                                               # RAY FLORETS    l72         152                                               SHAPE OF RAY     ELLIPTIC    ELLIPTIC                                          FLORETS                                                                        LENGTH OF RAY    3.6 CM      3.7 CM                                            FLORETS                                                                        WIDTH OF RAY     1.1 CM      1.22 CM                                           FLORETS                                                                        # OF FLOWERS/    8.6         8.6                                               BREAK                                                                          LEAF COLOR       FRONT: 147 A                                                                               FRONT: 147 A                                                       BACK: 147 B BACK: 147 B                                       MATURE LEAF      9.5 CM      9.5 CM                                            LENGTH                                                                         MATURE LEAF      5.7 CM      5.7 CM                                            WIDTH                                                                          RESPONSE/TREATMENT                                                                              WEEKS TO    WEEKS TO                                                           FLOWERING:  FLOWERING:                                                         MEDIUM      MEDIUM                                                             VIGOROUS    VIGOROUS                                                           GROWER      GROWER                                            ______________________________________                                    

Sunset Lady is similar to Wain's Pink Lady in growth habit and form, but has a distinctly different color. While Wain's Pink Lady is overall pink, Sunset Lady is a distinctive pale yellow with red eye. Buds on Sunset Lady are red/bronze.

The following lists the characteristic traits of the new cultivar Sunset Lady. Color designations are compared to the 1986 edition of R.H.S. Colour Chart, first published in 1966 by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England. The B-Nine™ growth regulator referred to in the culturing procedures is 2,2-dimethyl hydrazide sold under the name of Alar or Daminozide and manufactured by UniRoyal.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv. name Sunset Lady.

Commercial.--First decorative to be grown primarily as a 4.5-6.5 central bud removal (CBR) mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Decorative.

Diameter across face.--7.6 cm.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Pale yellow with a red center. Front: Fully expanded outer ray floret: 16C. Unfolded ray florets in center of flower: 42C. Back: Fully expanded outer ray floret: 16C. Front bud stage: Unexpanded outer ray floret: 42C. Back bud stage: Unexpanded outer ray floret: 42C.

Shape.--Elliptic.

C. Productive organs:

Androecium.--Not present.

Gynoecium.--Present in ray florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--When grown in a 6.5" pot with 1-3 applications of B-NINE™ (UniRoyal) at the rate of 2500 ppm, the total plant height from the bottom of the pot may be maintained at 16-18 inches. When grown in a 4.5" pot with 1-5 applications of B-NINE™ at the rate of 2500 ppm, the total plant height from the bottom of the pot may be maintained at 10-12 inches.

Branching pattern.--Upright and spreading with an average of 4.0 breaks when grown with one pinch as a spray pot.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147 A.

Color (lower surface).--147 B.

Shape.--Typically five-lobed with relatively deep indentations between lobes giving the leaf a somewhat narrow appearance with an overall width of about 5.7 cm and an average length of about 9.5 cm (see photograph). 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant, substantially as herein described and shown, characterized by its red-bronze bud color and pale yellow flower with a reddish-bronze center in the mature expanded flower. 